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I'm Off, But what Should I do

whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
edited December 1969 in The Commons

I'm always at work dreaming of doing great things - great renders, great art, great writing, great creating, great whatever, etc.

So now I am off until Monday. Not a lot of time but still. Yesterday was a bust and I don't want today to be the same. Because Monday, I'll go back to work and be dreaming all over again. It's a cycle for me.

So I want to learn to do something today. Here are a few things that could peak my interest.

First the tools I have: Daz Studio 4.6, Hexagon 2.5, Silo 2.2, Paint.net (I could subscribe to Photoshop if really needed), a few odds and ends. I don't have the big bucks to get like Zbrush, Lightwave, etc so lower end stuff is where I am at.

Projects That could be fun and challenging for me (note I haven't really gotten anywhere on actually creating or changing anything to date)

1) Create a character and give them a tan (challenge change a default skin in paint program, etc. I am so not the artist and lining up anything will be laughable)
2) Do some modeling tutorials. (I have some beginner ones like creating a crate, etc. It is mainly geared toward Poser which I tried all night to download and I don't think not one part of it finished from the looks of it but I do have Poser 2012 installed)
3) Take a piece of clothing like I don't know socks or underwear or tshirt, something simple and create new textures for it. (I still not the artist so it'll be a challenge to do any of this. buying a pair of novelty boxers would be easier than creating one)

I could do renders but short of trying to figure out lighting I'm not being as creative as my yearning is for. Not saying that rendering isn't creative because it is. I just want to try and do something of my own rather than use everyone else's stuff all of the time.

I can pick something myself but it's not as fun as if I am challenged by someone else. It's like creating a scavenger hunt list for myself. It's just not fun lol.

Sooooooo...anyone want to give me a challenge for the weekend?????

Thanks for your time as always. It is much appreciated.

Comments

  • robkelkrobkelk Posts: 3,259
    edited March 2014

    Hmmmmm... Maybe you could make a texture or two for me to give away to the people who take part in this month's Freebie Challenge. That would be your idea #3.

    (What? "Ulterior motive"? No, I'm being quite open here. :) )

    There are plenty of untextured outfits here, legally-free to download: http://www.pfddelights.com/index.php?topic=359.0

    Post edited by robkelk on
  • FSMCDesignsFSMCDesigns Posts: 12,754
    edited December 1969

    Hmm. trying to understand why you can't just start doing any of the three on your own, but since all 3 are pretty easy peasy, I would suggest the create a character since I get more satisfaction out of the 3 choices on that one the most. learning modeling would be the best long term, but more frustration and less satisfaction in the beginning. Texturing is the easiest IMO. Since you want a challenge, create 2-4 different coffee tables by sunday in Hexagon. This is fairly easy and should help you with your modeling skills. Keep in mind that if you just UVMap them, you don't have to create any textures, users can apply any or use seamless textures themselves.

    I tend to do all 3 things every time I set up a render, alter or adjust a skin texture, create my own props when needed, and i am constantly making/applying my own textures on the fly.

  • EleleElele Posts: 1,097
    edited December 1969

    Build me a crown! For I am the king... of my house... at the moment... caus everyone else is out...

    Seriously though, modelling is always handy even if it is just for basic stuff. That then leads to UV mapping and texturing... and then you need some characters to go along with your creation :)

  • icprncssicprncss Posts: 3,694
    edited December 1969

    Instead of asking others what you should do, you need to decide what want to do and then do it. No one else can truly decide for you. Of course if you allow them to choose for you and it doesn't work out, you can blame them rather than your self.

    Stop with the "grass is always greener on the other side". If you want to do great renders, decide what makes a render great and learn how to do it. Creating great art depends upon many things. Figure out what type of art you view as great and work at it. Same for great writing.

    While those considered the Great Masters of art or literature do have a certain degree of talent but all of them spent the time and effort to learn their craft.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    robkelk said:
    Hmmmmm... Maybe you could make a texture or two for me to give away to the people who take part in this month's Freebie Challenge. That would be your idea #3.

    (What? "Ulterior motive"? No, I'm being quite open here. :) )

    There are plenty of untextured outfits here, legally-free to download: http://www.pfddelights.com/index.php?topic=359.0


    The ulterior motive for me is to continue to learn to use Studio as well as any other program to eventually create my own stuff. I buy tons and tons and tons of stuff but still there are items I don't see. My main goal starting 3d was to help "flesh" out the novels I write as a way to help me visualize what is going on, maybe even make a 3d comic book to go along with them. I was broken into twice and everything stolen so last year I dedicated the year to starting over and trying to learn lighting (failed), rendering, setting up scenes, etc.

    This year I want to focus on creating things, not so much characters and clothing as to structures (maybe because I think creating these would be too hard). I tend to buy places and structures. I'd come close to creating an apartment with furniture than a character and a ballroom dress.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    FSMCDesigns said:
    Hmm. trying to understand why you can't just start doing any of the three on your own, but since all 3 are pretty easy peasy, I would suggest the create a character since I get more satisfaction out of the 3 choices on that one the most. learning modeling would be the best long term, but more frustration and less satisfaction in the beginning. Texturing is the easiest IMO. Since you want a challenge, create 2-4 different coffee tables by sunday in Hexagon. This is fairly easy and should help you with your modeling skills. Keep in mind that if you just UVMap them, you don't have to create any textures, users can apply any or use seamless textures themselves.

    I tend to do all 3 things every time I set up a render, alter or adjust a skin texture, create my own props when needed, and i am constantly making/applying my own textures on the fly.


    I wish these were all "easy peasy" for me. A lot of it is mental. It's not that I don't have ideas or motivation, a lot of it is old programming that says I can't do anything artistic. (which is bull but it doesn't stop my thinking from drifting that way). Part of it is frustration. I want to do something, don't know how, and can't find a tutorial or video. And I do a lot of searching before I ask. Part of it feels like ADD. I can't stick with anything long enough to finish. I want to do a 100 things today! But of course, I can't. I don't get off much and when I do I feel like I have to cram everything into the little time I have and be productive. But if I just take one thing and go step by step I will make progress. Instead I get overwhelmed and get nowhere.

    I don't know about coffee tables, but I do have a vid on creating a crate. It does use Hexagon and poser for sizing, saving, etc. I want to learn the entire process from creating something, UV mapping it, texturing it, morphing it, and packaging it up for distribution.

    I do like the idea of texturing because I can create textures for someone else's product. That appeals to me and seems less scary lol.

    Like I said a lot of it is mental. What I end up doing is collecting a lot of stuff but not using it.

  • AristocAristoc Posts: 254
    edited December 1969

    Is whispers65 male of female?

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    joeinhose said:
    Is whispers65 male of female?

    Not sure that it would matter much but male.

  • AristocAristoc Posts: 254
    edited December 1969

    only asked because I thought of some female clothing but probably best being made by a female. Or maybe you have given me an idea to try some myself.

  • robkelkrobkelk Posts: 3,259
    edited December 1969

    joeinhose said:
    only asked because I thought of some female clothing but probably best being made by a female. Or maybe you have given me an idea to try some myself.
    Many of the top "real world" fashion designers are not the same sex as the people they design clothing for. As long as somebody has decent fashion sense, it shouldn't matter who he or she designs for. At least, in my opinion.
  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449
    edited December 1969

    Although the powers that be at DAZ will hate me for saying this I suggest you drop Hexagon from your list of software to learn. You have Silo and even if you didn't there are better free modelling programs like Blender3D and Wings3d. 'Nother suggest, relax, don't feel that you have to create a masterpiece on your first try as that will just lead to frustration. Follow my motto, "Push buttons and see what happens.", it can be fun and educational.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    joeinhose said:
    only asked because I thought of some female clothing but probably best being made by a female. Or maybe you have given me an idea to try some myself.

    I don't know about that. I do want to try and make some guy clothing. I never have enough variety for me. At one time, I had made 10 different figures for men, women, girls, boys, etc but didn't have enough to make them all look different without wearing the same things. I just like variety so I'll going to try my hand at some simple stuff.

  • FSMCDesignsFSMCDesigns Posts: 12,754
    edited December 1969

    jestmart said:
    Although the powers that be at DAZ will hate me for saying this I suggest you drop Hexagon from your list of software to learn. You have Silo and even if you didn't there are better free modelling programs like Blender3D and Wings3d. 'Nother suggest, relax, don't feel that you have to create a masterpiece on your first try as that will just lead to frustration. Follow my motto, "Push buttons and see what happens.", it can be fun and educational.

    Blender may be better, but it is a nightmare to learn. I like your motto, pretty much matches my sig also.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    jestmart said:
    Although the powers that be at DAZ will hate me for saying this I suggest you drop Hexagon from your list of software to learn. You have Silo and even if you didn't there are better free modelling programs like Blender3D and Wings3d. 'Nother suggest, relax, don't feel that you have to create a masterpiece on your first try as that will just lead to frustration. Follow my motto, "Push buttons and see what happens.", it can be fun and educational.

    I do have my projects for today I'm going to work on. I'll start with Hexagon just so I can see the process but I am good at "transferring" knowledge over to other programs. I will admit I am somewhat of a perfectionist. I want to make things good but "You can't perfect what isn't done." So I'm going along with "It doesn't have to be good; it just has to be done." today.

    I'm following along on this video and it just wasn't working the way the person is doing. I compared the video with my screen and saw a button wasn't selected. Made all the difference in the world. So pushing buttons can be a good thing.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for everyone's input. Today was nothing more than "Hey why don't you try this." type of thing.

    Left to my own devices I may not have the courage to always go forward but with a "dare" I'll do it. :)

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    Hi whispers65
    It seems to me that you are living a dull moment.
    I would say ... you have relatives who live in the countryside? Go to the countryside. 'll ride, will give corn to the chickens, look at the yellow chicks, will take a cow's milk taken on time, grab a hoe and weed helps a plantation, let an ant bite your foot, plant some seeds, soybean,
    let the bull in the pasture give you a gallop.
    Once you have all these adventures in a place far from computers, where life is simple, things are simple ... But the enormous significance
    Then when you return to your home, know what to do / choose / decide!
    Whatever the problem: A boring life, depression, etc.
    There is no better medicine than you participate in the birth of the chicks, a hen, those little balls of yellow feathers, innocent giving their first steps ... It washes the soul ...

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,887
    edited March 2014

    Go jorge! :) But I think I'll pass on the bull giving a gallop. Prefer to let him graze peacefully while I sketch him, lol.

    One thing that stood out to me was that you don't feel you do lighting well. I'd start there, because that can be SO much fun when the render comes in and you see what you've done. Also, it doesn't matter WHAT you create if you can't light it well. Putz and play!

    Post edited by Novica on
  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    Novica said:
    Go jorge! :) But I think I'll pass on the bull giving a gallop. Prefer to let him graze peacefully while I sketch him, lol.

    One thing that stood out to me was that you don't feel you do lighting well. I'd start there, because that can be SO much fun when the render comes in and you see what you've done. Also, it doesn't matter WHAT you create if you can't light it well. Putz and play!

    AHAA! HA! HA! HAA!
    Hi Novica
    Because I already had a few gallops. a gallop of a bull, and all other gallops were wild cows, defending their small calves (I was not going to calves hurt, not only wanted to bring them to the ranch)
    also had to spend a few hours on top of a tree, until the mother cow, give up the chase. The cow had huge horns, she just respected my father.
    I was shivering and sweating ... This adrenaline break any routine

  • Subtropic PixelSubtropic Pixel Posts: 2,388
    edited March 2014

    joeinhose said:
    only asked because I thought of some female clothing but probably best being made by a female. Or maybe you have given me an idea to try some myself.

    robkelk said:
    Many of the top "real world" fashion designers are not the same sex as the people they design clothing for. As long as somebody has decent fashion sense, it shouldn't matter who he or she designs for. At least, in my opinion.

    I agree. And some designers are even straight. There are a lot of stereotypes that simply do not hold for all people. I make some jewelry and have gotten some odd looks and snide comments from a few who know me. But it's fun to flirt with the girls while shopping for materials or attending a class. Nope, I am all alpha male! :coolgrin: I don't do upper tier precious stone works yet, but looks nice and I can fix my own stuff when it breaks!

    I have thought of modelling some of these for use in DS.

    jestmart said:
    Although the powers that be at DAZ will hate me for saying this I suggest you drop Hexagon from your list of software to learn. You have Silo and even if you didn't there are better free modelling programs like Blender3D and Wings3d. 'Nother suggest, relax, don't feel that you have to create a masterpiece on your first try as that will just lead to frustration. Follow my motto, "Push buttons and see what happens.", it can be fun and educational.

    I have dropped Hexagon because it does not support ME very well at all. It crashes too often and this kills my muse. Hex won't support massive meshes, and due to only being 32 bit legacy code only, it is forced to run in a Windows 8 "sandbox" memory address space; maybe not receiving all the best attention from the OS that it should.

    Hexagon actually CHASED ME TO Blender (I have so far bypassed Carrara, which I have too, because the Carrara UI is too hard to see on big screens). Yes, Blender is a long slog, but I think it's well on its way to becoming the standard by which all others are measured, so it would be well worth your time. If the OP has Silo, well then do that and save Blender for later. Whatever you decide, don't bother with Hexagon until DAZ modernizes it.

    -----------------

    only asked because I thought of some female clothing but probably best being made by a female. Or maybe you have given me an idea to try some myself.

    I don't know about that. I do want to try and make some guy clothing. I never have enough variety for me. At one time, I had made 10 different figures for men, women, girls, boys, etc but didn't have enough to make them all look different without wearing the same things. I just like variety so I'll going to try my hand at some simple stuff.

    I'm with you there; this is why I started making jewelry; because there is so little for men to wear IRL. And all the books and tutorials seem to revolve around way too delicate and/or extravagant ladies' styles; far too feminine for a fella to wear.

    Here are some ideas for guy clothing:

    -- dress shirt with pressed creases along the arms. For a real challenge, add a tie and make it a French cuff shirt complete with cufflinks.

    -- dress shirt designed to be worn open in front to two or three buttons down from the top.

    -- dress pants with pleats at the waist (in front of the front pocket), pressed crease down the front of the legs, and cuffs (I mean ACTUAL tailored cuffs)

    -- dress wingtip shoes

    -- baseball cap (could be unisex)

    -- a few types of T-shirt fits

    -- good blue jeans. New, old, and anything in between, and throw in some oil stains as a bonus for the guy who does his own oil changes!

    Post edited by Subtropic Pixel on
  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    Subtropic Pixel said:

    whispers65 said:
    I don't know about that. I do want to try and make some guy clothing. I never have enough variety for me. At one time, I had made 10 different figures for men, women, girls, boys, etc but didn't have enough to make them all look different without wearing the same things. I just like variety so I'll going to try my hand at some simple stuff.

    I'm with you there; this is why I started making jewelry; because there is so little for men to wear IRL. And all the books and tutorials seem to revolve around way too delicate and/or extravagant ladies' styles; far too feminine for a fella to wear.

    Here are some ideas for guy clothing:

    -- dress shirt with pressed creases along the arms. For a real challenge, add a tie and make it a French cuff shirt complete with cufflinks.

    -- dress shirt designed to be worn open in front to two or three buttons down from the top.

    -- dress pants with pleats at the waist (in front of the front pocket), pressed crease down the front of the legs, and cuffs (I mean ACTUAL tailored cuffs)

    -- dress wingtip shoes

    -- baseball cap (could be unisex)

    -- a few types of T-shirt fits

    -- good blue jeans. New, old, and anything in between, and throw in some oil stains as a bonus for the guy who does his own oil changes!

    Good ideas. I do plan on starting with the basics and go from there. oh BTW, I love your tag "I’m starting over from starting over. Be patient with me! smile"

    I feel like that is me all over again.

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    I will not decide for you but ...
    I'd love to buy a male and female clothing pack this style for poser / daz
    daz stores are poor in this style
    http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/max-arab-afghani-pack/642838
    http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/arab-male-c4d/615254

    Pack01.jpg6915a2c9-84a8-4769-b77e-cbc563756b15Large_.jpg
    600 x 600 - 130K
    A_col01.jpg9407d178-b753-4ca0-bd98-157726b259f3Large_.jpg
    600 x 600 - 109K
  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    jorge dorlando said:
    Hi whispers65
    It seems to me that you are living a dull moment.
    I would say ... you have relatives who live in the countryside? Go to the countryside. 'll ride, will give corn to the chickens, look at the yellow chicks, will take a cow's milk taken on time, grab a hoe and weed helps a plantation, let an ant bite your foot, plant some seeds, soybean,
    let the bull in the pasture give you a gallop.
    Once you have all these adventures in a place far from computers, where life is simple, things are simple ... But the enormous significance
    Then when you return to your home, know what to do / choose / decide!
    Whatever the problem: A boring life, depression, etc.
    There is no better medicine than you participate in the birth of the chicks, a hen, those little balls of yellow feathers, innocent giving their first steps ... It washes the soul ...

    Sorry. I haven't wanted to answer this post because you really are spot on. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who lives in the country and it's hard enough to get away from work. I keep dreaming of the lottery. But what I could do is after I'm over this sickness crud that everyone has is get out for a nice day of fishing. Responsibility takes way too much time in my life and then when I do have down time I'm too exhausted to do anything fun.

  • Subtropic PixelSubtropic Pixel Posts: 2,388
    edited December 1969

    About that...it's a form of "writer's block", exacerbated by busy work schedules.

    There's a book called "The Artist's Way" that might help you deal with some of that (feeding the inner artist child, giving yourself an "artist date", etcetera). I did that for a few months, writing the journal pages and all, and it can help. Eventually I went another way, but occasionally refer back to it because it can help me to see and think about the world more like a child does, which is where the artist part comes in.

    Yes, my bridge must be able to support the weight of the road and the traffic, but does it have to look ugly? No!

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    whispers65 said:
    jorge dorlando said:
    Hi whispers65
    It seems to me that you are living a dull moment.
    I would say ... you have relatives who live in the countryside? Go to the countryside. 'll ride, will give corn to the chickens, look at the yellow chicks, will take a cow's milk taken on time, grab a hoe and weed helps a plantation, let an ant bite your foot, plant some seeds, soybean,
    let the bull in the pasture give you a gallop.
    Once you have all these adventures in a place far from computers, where life is simple, things are simple ... But the enormous significance
    Then when you return to your home, know what to do / choose / decide!
    Whatever the problem: A boring life, depression, etc.
    There is no better medicine than you participate in the birth of the chicks, a hen, those little balls of yellow feathers, innocent giving their first steps ... It washes the soul ...

    Sorry. I haven't wanted to answer this post because you really are spot on. Unfortunately I don't know anyone who lives in the country and it's hard enough to get away from work. I keep dreaming of the lottery. But what I could do is after I'm over this sickness crud that everyone has is get out for a nice day of fishing. Responsibility takes way too much time in my life and then when I do have down time I'm too exhausted to do anything fun.
    Ooh yes, no problem!
    Fish ... yes fishing too!
    Each one has their way to break the routine ... The way I prescribed to you is my way, this works for me.
    the comic strip below, I made purely by hand at the time, among other comics, to attend an event comic, held in the nearby town.
    this little piggy really existed, and his name was tuica, she was mine.
    the inspiration for this story came when I was giving food to her ...
    I did not won the contest, but the story had a satisfactory repercussion.

    3_modified.jpg
    1000 x 1375 - 1M
  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    Subtropic Pixel said:
    About that...it's a form of "writer's block", exacerbated by busy work schedules.

    There's a book called "The Artist's Way" that might help you deal with some of that (feeding the inner artist child, giving yourself an "artist date", etcetera). I did that for a few months, writing the journal pages and all, and it can help. Eventually I went another way, but occasionally refer back to it because it can help me to see and think about the world more like a child does, which is where the artist part comes in.

    Yes, my bridge must be able to support the weight of the road and the traffic, but does it have to look ugly? No!

    I've heard of it. I'll check it out. I used to journal a long time back but that was then. It does help especially when lots of things come at once.

  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    I started a modeling tutorial yesterday and here are the results. It is perfect but a start and above all it was really fun and I learned quite a bit.

    Danger.jpg
    1395 x 921 - 773K
  • whispers65whispers65 Posts: 952
    edited December 1969

    Here are a couple of scenes I did yesterday also. They don't feel quite right but I liked them. Some of my better renders at any rate.

    Winter002.jpg
    1832 x 921 - 1M
    Night001.jpg
    1832 x 921 - 1M
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